Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-09-30


OF the firm Of Gregory, Barnes 81 Co.,
wholesale fruit dealers and shippers, in an
swer to interrogatories said: The season
of 1887 has shown the largest yield and
output of fruit that our State has ever ex-
'perienced. Quality as a rule has been
good, though the average of shipping fruit
has been no greater than heretofore. This
can be explained by the fact that about 80
per cent. of the product raised can be called
frst-cass shipping stock, which is due
principally to the lack of experience and
the necessary knowledge of horticultural
science shown in the work of the average
grower, who must eventually learn that
the necessity of growing only standard va
rieties, and OF such quality as to merit the
wants of the trade, is a science that
can be acquired only by sound, practical
knowledge of the business in detail, and is
worthy all the attention that can be given.
1t is matter of record that choice Sc
lected fruit-if picked at the proper stage
of ripeness consistent with the time for
which it is destined to keep and packed in
q suitable manner to stand transportation
will carry in good order, barring unforeseen
adverse circumstances. The season Of 1887
confirms the established record Of all other
seasons on that point, and the record was
not made by the average grower, though a
few may be accepted in the category of
having sustained it. The result of the
auction system in the Eastern markets has
demonstrated that, if the plan be practical
bic in its best sense, it cannot prove profta-
bic with poor fruit being thrown into di-
rect competition with the good and prop
erlv packed stock
We have made but few experiments in
that particular avenue, but enough 10 be-
come satisfied, in measure, that the
scheme is not calculated to produce the
best results for the industry in general The
reasons for this are too numerous to state
IN detsil-the principal one being that the
stock is placed at the mercy of combina-
tons at the Eastern end discrimination in
favor of poor stock have been as frequent
as IN the good and properly packed article,
While the perishable nature of the product
shows conclusively that it cannot be man
lpuiated successfully without intelligent
intercourse between buyer and seller-a
CONDITION that IS not permitted in the
present auction system
When poor fruit can be eliminated from
shipments, and people become educated to
the fact that only first-class fruit of desira-
pie varieties. and properly packed, is wanted
IN any and all markets, and the question
of supply regulated in accordance with the
demand-then the main difficulties as re-
gards the mode and manner of manipula-
ton will be successfully demonstrated ::
then can our fruit command the inspec-
ton and approval of the buyer.
The season opened on markets bare of
canned and dried fruit, owing TO shortness
OF last years crop. This gave an impetus
to those lines that has been unprecedented
and naturally created heavy demand and
drain upon green fruits of all kinds. and
for all purposes But we must not expect
such favorable circumstances during all
coming seasons.
To conclude, l would say that the ex-
EaeEzelce of the present season's shipments
OF fslit to the East is, that the question of
cost OF transportation does not form so
great . factor in the protection and ad-
vaneezaent of the industry as that of quail
Ity and packing. We have had no difficulty
whatever in disposing of all strictly first
class fruit re could get, and at remuuera-
tive prices: but frequently the price we
would have received from this quality has
been injuriOusly affected by competition
with inferior stock which should have
been dried or canned at home, or rather
cot have been produced at all.
The grower must therefore admit the
Iorea of the argument that he can look for
success in the propagation and sale of his
PRODUCES by encouraging the cultivation Of